IIOJK’s Struggle for Identity: The Impact of Hindutva Policies and Systematic Oppression

IIOJK has become a living hell for its people, caught in the crossfire of a long-standing conflict and a relentless push to erase its unique identity.

Since the partition of British India in 1947, Kashmir has been embroiled in a conflict that has deprived its people of peace and self-determination. The region, historically a princely state, was never given a choice to decide whether it would accede to India or Pakistan, and this lack of agency continues to define Kashmir’s tumultuous relationship with India. Over the past 70 years, Kashmiris have faced racial, religious, and political discrimination, with their plight exacerbated by India’s Hindutva-driven policies.

The rise of Hindutva ideology, championed by India’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its ideological parent, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), has deeply influenced policies in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK). Hindutva seeks to establish Hindu dominance across India, and this agenda has been extended to the Kashmir region. One of the central aspects of this strategy is demographic engineering—changing the region’s ethnic composition to dilute its Muslim majority. The revocation of Articles 370 and 35A, which granted IIOJK special autonomy, facilitated the settlement of non-Kashmiris in the region, altering its demographic fabric and threatening its identity.

IIOJK has endured over seven decades of suffering, marked by violence, military occupation, and systemic discrimination. With one of the highest military presences in the world—900,000 troops stationed in the region—Kashmiris live under constant surveillance and repression. The military’s presence has led to countless human rights violations, including extrajudicial killings, sexual violence, and mass arrests. The Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) has given the military sweeping powers, including immunity from prosecution, which has enabled atrocities such as torture and the use of pellet guns against protesters, causing widespread blindness among young Kashmiris.

The suppression of religious freedoms has been another major aspect of India’s policies in IIOJK. Authorities have imposed restrictions on Islamic gatherings, especially during significant events like Eid and Muharram, and even banned prayers at prominent mosques such as Srinagar’s Jamia Masjid. In addition, the Indian government has been involved in censoring Islamic literature, with over 650 books seized in 2025 under allegations of promoting banned ideologies. Cultural erasure has also been a pressing issue, with IIOJK’s linguistic heritage under threat as Hindi and Sanskrit are promoted over Kashmiri and Urdu. Artists producing works critical of government policies face censorship, contributing to the erosion of IIOJK’s rich cultural identity.

On August 5, 2019, India unilaterally revoked Articles 370 and 35A, which had guaranteed Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir’s special autonomy and protected its demographic integrity. This move, widely regarded as an illegal annexation, was followed by a brutal crackdown. Communications were shut down, political leaders were detained, and the region was placed under a strict lockdown. The Indian government also reorganized IIOJK into two Union Territories, significantly reducing local political representation and further undermining the region’s autonomy. This reorganization, along with efforts to control religious institutions, has heightened fears of further marginalizing Kashmiri Muslims.

The repression in IIOJK extends to the media, where journalists face harassment, arbitrary detention, and censorship. Independent voices are silenced, with many reporters and activists charged under draconian laws like the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA), which allows for indefinite detention without trial. This suppression of press freedom has made it increasingly difficult to report on the realities of life in IIOJK, leaving the international community with little access to the truth of what is happening on the ground.

Despite reports from international organizations such as the United Nations, Amnesty International, and Human Rights Watch, the global response to the situation in IIOJK has been largely silent. While the revocation of Article 370 in 2019 was met with international condemnation, there have been few concrete actions taken against India’s human rights violations. This inaction has emboldened the Indian government to continue its oppressive policies in the region with little fear of repercussions.

Kashmir’s struggle is not merely a territorial dispute; it is a fight against racial and religious discrimination fueled by a Hindutva-driven agenda. The systematic suppression of Kashmiri identity, culture, and religion continues under India’s policies, while the international community remains largely passive. Without global intervention and recognition of Kashmiris’ right to self-determination, the region will continue to suffer under an oppressive regime that seeks to erase its identity and quash its resistance.